Rauner, fresh off an endorsement from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, appeared before Chicago reporters for the fifth day in a row Friday to reinforce his message linking Gov. Pat Quinn to disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"We're at the bottom of the barrel in economic growth, the bottom of the barrel on job creation and we can't solve our problems if we don't fix that," Rauner said.

Quinn continues to tout the state's improving job numbers and senses momentum is on his side.

"It's 46 days to the election. Every day counts. I never presume anything," Quinn said.

Rauner is hoping to walk into a friendlier General Assembly. He donated another $750,000 to the Illinois Republican Party, making a total of $2.8 million he's contributed to help boost lawmakers' campaigns.

"We'll win this race because I'm going to work for the people of Illinois," Rauner said.

But Quinn, a life-long politician, has been counted out before -- only to survive.

"Campaigns are about the people, not about candidates. It's important we do things for everyday people who live paycheck to paycheck," Quinn said.

The Illinois governor's race is considered one of the top five in the country.